Thanks for Space to Entertain: Part 1

Thanksgiving. The idea of the traditional American Thanksgiving always makes me think of a couple of things. Stuffing myself until I can’t move and all I want to do is take a nap, watching the Macy’s parade on TV and spending time with family. We usually did Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s house. She had the formal dining room and the large living room, and she was the best cook in the family. Of course, I think I’m the best cook in the family now, but our house is too small for all of that.

So, when you think about having or hosting a Thanksgiving, you have to think about where everyone is going to sit. Are you going to have to break out the tv trays and hope that there isn’t a horrible accident? Or are you going to make sure that you have a formal dining room with plenty of space for everyone. Except, of course, those of us who sit at the kids’ table. Hey! That’s the best spot! I don’t have to listen to Great Aunt So and So talk about her dentures!

Thanks for Space to Entertain

We all want to be the Martha Stewart of our families and host the gorgeous formal gatherings with the perfectly prepared turkey and the creamiest of gravy. OK maybe that’s just me and I’m just hungry. But in order to host any kind of large gathering, you have to have the space to do so. So, let’s look at some plans that feature that kind of space.

Sapphire Place (MEN 5128)

As you approach this rustic style home, the first thing that you notice is the gorgeous mixture of board and batten with stonework and rustic exposed timbers. As you enter the home through the lovely covered porch, you find yourself in the foyer.

The foyer gives you high ceilings that let you know you are stepping into a beautiful home. On the left side of the foyer is the dining room. This formal entertainment area is perfect to serve up that portion of roast beast and mashed tubers. The dining room features the same high ceiling from the foyer and a double casement window that faces the front of the house through the covered front porch.

Stepping past the dining room, you find yourself in an open floor plan that combines the great room, kitchen and breakfast room. The great room gives you a lovely vaulted ceiling with a fireplace that dominates the right wall of the space. The rear of the great room gives you a large picture window that looks out over the grilling porch. Here is an entrance to the grilling porch with its stone and exposed timber accents.

The kitchen separates itself from the great room with a kitchen island. The island gives you bar seating for 4 and also provides you with the perfect place for cleaning up. The island features a sink and a dishwasher that faces the great room so that you can keep an eye on the activities while you are washing up from supper.

The rest of the kitchen gives you plenty of counterspace so that you can prep those big meals. The kitchen also gives you a large pantry in between it and the dining room. Adjacent to the kitchen is the breakfast room. This space is perfect for informal meals or a quick meal. The breakfast room also gives you a large window that looks out over the grilling porch in the rear of the home.

Moving down a short hallway you will find the laundry room and the stairs leading to the second floor. The laundry room gives you storage over the washer and dryer hookups as well. Just between the laundry room and the stairs is a small nook where you can hang your coats and things after coming in from the garage.

This hall is also where you will find the half bath, which is close enough to the entertaining areas to be convenient for guests. This hall will lead you right to the master suite. The master bedroom gives you a lovely high boxed ceiling with a large picture window that looks out onto the rear of the home.

The master bath gives you dual sinks with both a tub and a large shower with a seat. The walk-in closet completes this side of the home and gives you plenty of space for storage.

The other side of the home gives you bedrooms 2 and 3. Bedroom 2 features two windows that look out over the rear of the home while bedroom 3 features a double casement window that looks over the front of the home. The bedrooms each have their own sink, walk in closet and linen closet while they share the adjoined bathing area.

The second floor of the home is devoted to a bonus room and gives you access to the attic storage.

St. Agnus (MEN 5029)

The first thing that you notice about this home is the gorgeous rough stucco style exterior. This combined with the exposed timbers and board and batten siding is just stunning. These details, which are so typical of a Michael E. Nelson plan, make sure that your house is the first one that is noticed on the block.

Entering the home from the covered porch, you walk through the double entry doors into the foyer. The foyer gives you high ceilings and makes sure that you realize that you are stepping into a stately home. On the left side of the foyer is the formal dining room.

The formal dining room gives you those same high ceilings from the foyer and a large picture window that faces the front of the home. The dining room is connected to the kitchen through a convenient butler’s pantry. This gives you a great way to stage courses and beverages during a dinner party or serve appetizers.

From the foyer you can make your way into the large space that is part of the open floor plan. This open floor plan is made up of the great room, the kitchen and the breakfast room. The great room is dominated by a large brickwork gas fireplace on the right wall of the space. The rear wall of the great room is a sliding glass door that opens onto the covered outdoor living area.

The outdoor living area features a vaulted ceiling with exposed timber beams. It also has a large masonry fireplace on one of the walls so that even on the chilliest of evenings, you can be all warm and snuggly.

The kitchen is separated from the great room by a large island. This island gives you bar seating for 6 and provides a perfect place for cleaning up after a large meal. The island features a space for a sink and a dishwasher and faces the great room so you can keep an eye on things while you are cleaning up.

The rest of the kitchen gives you loads of counterspace with room for a double oven, oversized range and both a refrigerator and freezer. Adjacent to the kitchen is the breakfast room. This space is perfect for informal meals and small gatherings and features a large window that overlooks the rear of the home.

Moving further into the home you will find a built-in computer center and the half bath. Both of these are right off of the kitchen making them convenient for the chef and for any guests. Here you will also find a kid’s nook that is perfect for hanging up coats and ridding yourself of boots and hats before moving into the rest of the home.

Further down this hall you will find the large laundry room. Not only does this laundry room have space for both the washer and dryer with hanging storage over them, but it also has a large closet! Did I forget to mention the countertop that runs around the wall to the small soaking sink?

The master suite is down this way just past the computer center. The master bedroom gives you high boxed ceilings and windows on two of the walls. The master bath is enormous. It features a double vanity, space for a makeup station, a freestanding tub and a large glass shower in the corner. I love corner showers. They are so nice. The master closet is nothing to sneeze at either. It features plenty of storage space and an entrance to the laundry area.

On the other side of the home, you will find bedrooms 2, 3 and 4. Bedroom 2 has a lovely vaulted ceiling and a window that looks out the front of the home under the covered porch. It also features its own walk in closet that has its own window. Bedroom 3 has a large window that faces the side of the home and its own walk-in closet with window.

Bedroom 4 gives you a window that faces the rear of the home, a walk-in closet and an in-suite bathroom. Bedrooms 2 and 3 share the hall bathroom.

Brick Gables (MEN 5153)

As you approach the home, the first thing that you notice are its namesake gables. The gables and unique roofline of this house plan will make sure that your home will stand out in the crowd. As you enter the home from the brick entry porch you find yourself in the foyer.

The foyer is accessed from the double entry doors and gives you a sense of how lovely this plan is going to be. On the left side of the foyer is the formal dining room. This room gives you plenty of space for a formal get-together. The view would also be fantastic outside of the picture window that faces the front of the home.

Just through the foyer you will find yourself in an open floor plan that includes the great room, kitchen and breakfast room. The great room features a large brickwork fireplace on the right side of this room. The great room also gives you vaulted ceilings and two double door entrances to the outdoor living space on the rear of the home.

The outdoor living space is uncovered and continues the European lines of the home with brick columns and an optional outdoor kitchen. The kitchen is separated from the great room by a large island. This island gives you bar seating for 5 with space for a dishwasher and sink. This makes it a perfect place to clean up after a dinner while keeping an eye on the comings and goings while you are cleaning up.

The rest of the kitchen gives you plenty of counterspace and space for a large range and refrigerator. Adjacent to the kitchen is the large pantry and stairs to the second floor. On the other side of the kitchen is the breakfast room. This is a perfect space for an informal meal or a quick bite to eat and features windows on two of the walls facing the rear of the home.

Off the garage, you will find the safe room. This is a perfect place for it and gives you a great safe spot during severe weather. It also means that you don’t have to go outside to access it.

Just past this is the kid’s nook that gives you a perfect place to store your outer garments on the way to the rest of the house. Here is also where you will find the laundry room with storage over the washer and dryer hookups and a small sink. The hall also leads to the half bath, which is conveniently located for guests or children with small bladders. (My 4-year-old still has to do the jump and run thing.)

This is also the way to the master suite. The master bedroom gives you a vaulted ceiling and a picture window that faces the rear of the home. The master bath features a double vanity, linen closet, a freestanding tub and a corner shower with a seat. Don’t forget about the walk-in closet!

The other side of the home is occupied by bedrooms 2 and 3. Bedroom 2 is on the rear of the home and features a double casement window that looks in that direction. Bedroom 3 is on the front of the home and features a vaulted ceiling and a picture window that looks in that direction. Both of the bedrooms have their own vanity, linen closet and walk-in closet while they share the bathing area of a jack and jill bathroom.

The second floor is taken up by a bonus room and the optional bathroom. If you decide to build this portion out, which is not included in the square footage above, then you would have the perfect space for a second master suite or a guest suite.

Maybe you're looking for something in particular? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Come check out Nelson Design Group’s collection of over 1,800 house plans. And come check out the past blog posts in our house plan series:

• Farmhouse style
• Farmhouse House Plans
• Contemporary Modern style
• Contemporary Modern House Plans
• Rustic Style
• Rustic House plans
• Mountain and Cabins House Style
• Mountain and Cabin House Plans
• Examining House Styles: Pool Houses
• House Plan Spotlight: Pool Houses
• Examining House Styles: The Florida Collection
• House Plan Spotlight: The Florida Collection
• Outdoor Buildings: Garages and Pool Houses
• American Style House Plans
• Starter Homes Spotlight: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

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